The Vancouver Special is a beloved local icon—and a massive renovation opportunity. Homeowners in East Vancouver and Burnaby often wonder: What is the actual cost of transforming a 1970s Special into a modern, dual-income property? At Skon Design Build, we specialize in these complex projects and understand the unique challenges they present, from mandatory asbestos testing before demolition to navigating City of Vancouver permitting rules.
For a comprehensive, interior renovation of a typical 2,500 sq. ft. Vancouver Special, current 2026 pricing suggests budgeting in the range of $200 to $250 per square foot. This translates to a total project cost starting around $500,000 to $625,000+. A key driver for many is creating a legal basement suite or mortgage helper; for a 1,060 sq. ft. first-floor conversion, a rough budget is $215K to $240K, with the rest of the investment going toward the modern update of the main living floor.
Choosing the Design-Build model ensures we plan your project to your budget. We provide the expertise to manage the complexities of a Vancouver Special renovation, ensuring transparency and quality from concept to completion.
Ready to start planning your Vancouver Special renovation?
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